Midwife Explains Why Pregnancy Shouldn't Be Joked About On April Fool's
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While people all over the UK spend this morning playing pranks on their significant others or their work colleagues, a midwife has explained by it's never okay to do faux pregnancy April Fool's.
A post highlighting the heartache and trauma that can come with miscarriage and infertility is being shared online in a bid to make people think before joking about pregnancy.
"One in four of your friends will have lost a baby and one in six will be suffering from infertility," the post reads.
"Pregnancy is not a joke, be more creative this April Fool's."
Liz Wilkes, managing director of My Midwives has explained how pregnancy April Fool's gags can be a painful reminder for women who are experiencing fertility issues.
"Women can be quite fragile around the issue of pregnancy and something like a joke pregnancy announcement can end up being a painful reminder of something they are struggling with," she told Femail.
"Women who are experiencing fertility issues, have had a miscarriage or have had to terminate a pregnancy may have had to keep this to themselves will be feeling emotional.
"To see something like [a joke announcement] on Instagram of Facebook is really disrespectful."
This thought was echoed by Kayla Lee Welsh, who shared a photo of herself crying while holding one of her many pregnancy tests back in 2016.
"This is why your April Fool's joke isn't funny," she wrote.
"This is why it's not funny to lie and joke about being pregnant. This is what it looks like to have a miscarriage.
"A week ago today I started spotting. I convinced myself it was normal because I did it with Keegan. This time it wasn't.
"I avoid laying down to go to sleep because as soon as I hit the bed I'm alone with all of my thoughts. My brain has finally stopped distracting itself from the one thing breaking my heart.
"And all I can do is cry. My eyes are so swollen and dark it looks like more than just my heart is broken.
"Crying so hard that you go numb and feel nothing anymore.
"Trying to be happy that your baby never knew anything other than love.
"And missing someone so dearly that you never even met.
"It's a pain no one can describe. Because how can you properly grieve someone you never got to meet?"
She continued: "Please think twice before you post that April Fool's joke. Because what's funny for a second in your eyes crushes someone else's heart for eternity."
It's estimated that one-in-eight pregnancies in the UK will end in miscarriage according to NHS figures.